Animal-trap.



B. HOLT ANIMAL TRAP APPLICATION FILED 11111;. 25, 1912.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

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Wl TN E SSE 8 UNITED STATES PQENT GFFICE.

BENJAMIN HOLT, OF ALBION, NEW YORK.

.ANIMAL-TRAP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN HoLT, residin at Albion, in the county of Orleans and tate of New York, have invented a new and Improved Animal-Trap, of which. the fo-llowing is a specification.

This invention, while relating generally to animal traps, is mo-re especially designed for catching mice or rats and it has for its object to provide a trap of the character stated of a simple and inexpensive construeticn, easily arranged and set for use and in which the several parts have such shape and coperative connect-ion whereby they can be readily knocked down and compactly folded or packed for storing and shipping.

W'ith other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, my invention comprises an animal trap constructed and arranged in the manner hereinafter fully described, specifically pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of my trap set up as a mouse catcher. Fig. 2, is a vertical section thereof, parts being in side elevation. Fig. 3, is an enlarged cross section of the upper or entrance end of the trap. Figs. l and 5, are perspective views of modified forms of the entrance tube or passage hereinafter referred to. Fig. G, illustrates how the several parts of my trap may be separated and packed for storing or shipping. Fig. 7, is a perspective view of a modified form of the bottom member hereinafter referred to.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a dome shaped cage 1, the body of which is made of woven wire, the mesh of which varies according' to the particular use of which the trap is provided, when for catching mice, as shown in the drawing, the said mesh is fine woven wire. The lower end of the cage is reinforced by a metal band or rim 10 to provide the desired stiffness for the lower edge of the cage.

2 designates the bottom of the trap, which is of sheet metal stamped with an annular verical rim 20 with which the lower or stiffened edge of the cage engages and with which, by reason of its resilience, the said edge interlocks when the parts are assembled for use as shown lin Figs. 1 and 2.

` By reason of making the body or cage 0f the trap in the manner stated and the bottom removably but interlockably connect- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 25, 1912.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912. serial No. 693,131.

ible therewith, the said two parts can be readily separated and a number of the dome shaped bodies l, nested, as shown in Fig. 6, which also shows how the bottoms 2 may be superimposed for shipping or storing.

The dome of trap 1 has a central opening 12 reinforced by a pair of sheet metal rings 13, each of which has radial fingers or extensions 14.- adapted for bending through the wire mesh and for clamping over one another and'over a ring 13X on the underside of the wire mesh whereby to securely clamp the two rings on the dome top. The upper one of the rings 13 has a pair of diametrically opposite vertical ears 14 at the inner edge, the purpose of which will presently i appear'.

3 designates the entrance or passage to the interior of the trap and the same, in the simplest form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a metal tube that is pivotally hung in the upper or entrance end of the cage ll. The tube 3 is of such a length that the lower end hangs closely over the bottom of the cage, as is best shown in Fig. 2, and in such a Inanner that the rodent in passing down through the tube can work its way out of the tube by reason of the tube swinging in the direction in which the rodent attempts to escape from the said tube into the trap or cage l. By reason of having the exit of the tube 3 extended closely to the bottom 2, it is impossible for the lrodent to crawl under since in making elort to do so it would constantly swing the lower end of the tube away from itself and out of position for escape therethrough. For det-aehably supporting the tube 3 in the manner stated, I provide a spring Wire keeper, the body l of which is curved to iit inside of the upper end of the tube and is held clamped therein by the clip 80 cut in the upper end of the tube and bent inwardly and over the said keeper. The ends 40 of the lspring wire keeper are bent at right angles and extended through the apertures 32 in the tube t0 form pintles for engaging the apertured ears 14n-14a.

To disconnect the tube from the cage, for packing and storing, it is only necessary when the bottom 2 is removed from the cage, to squeeze the upper end of the tube to cause the pivot pintles to move inwardly and out of the apertured ears 14?. In shipping the tubes 3 are contained within the nest of the cage member 1.

Instead of using a plain tube 3, as shown in Figs. l and 2, the said tube may have the lower end slotted as at 33, see the modified form shown in Fig. 4, or the said lower end may be in the nature of a Wire cage 34 as shown by the modified form Fig. 5.

Vhile I prefer, on account of economy in making the same, to have the bottomy 2 shaped as shown in I4`igs. l and 2, the said bottom may be a flat disk 25, see Eig. 7;, pro.- vided With aseries, of spring clips 26; at the edges for gripping thev lower edge of the cage When fitted thereon. The spring clips 26 wheny the bottoms are packed for shipping, alsoserve to hold the pack oi bottoms secure in their nestedposition.

By reason of constructing the .trapin the manner described and showmthe trap can be made. at a.. smallcost and so1dcheap, since a large number cany bereadily nested for shipping and. compactly stored'.

What I claim is: l

1. An animal trap comprising a dome shape cage having a opening in the top, a bottom interlockably connectible With the `said rim` edge, and a tunnel that forms a passage for theanimal,

the saidv tunnel being.I pivotally and, remov.

lowerrlm edgeand an ably suspended in the opening inthe top of the dome, the said tunnel being of such length whereby its exit is in close proximity to but not in touch with the bottom.

2. An animal trap comprising a cage havj ing an entrance in the top, a tunnel pivotlally suspended from' the entrance and extending` to a point near the bottom of the ,tr-ap, and means for removably mounting the said tunnel in the entrance of the cage.

8. An animal trap comprising a cage having an entrance in the top7 a tunnel pivotally suspended from the entrance and extending for removably mounting the said tunnel in the. entrance of the cage, the said means consisting of oppositely disposed apertured ears on the cageand a flexible member cartoa point near the bottom of the trap, means riedr onthe upper end of the tunnel and having pintles, the said pintles being projccta ble intoand movable out of said ears Whereby to become disconnected from the apertured ears.

BENJAMIN IIOLT.

Vitnesses LYMAN S. LINsoN, C. II. DEAN.

Copies of? this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D.` 0;` 

